Bathing cap



R 1943- E. M CAFFREY 2,447,708

BATHINGCAP Filed Dec. 14, 1946 INVENTOR LYN Mc AFFREY RNEY Patented Aug.24, 1948 StAtiUH hUUM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relatesto bathing caps, and particularly to those customarily worn by girls andwomen for swimming and shower baths to protect their hair againstwetting.

Such bathing caps are made of thin sheet rubber and are designed to hugthe head closely, especially along the marginal periphery of the capwhere a tight water-excluding fit is desired. Thus, it is necessary witha cap of proper size to stretch the material of the cap during placementon the head, while, at the same time, bunching the hair toward the backto insure its inclusion under the protective covering. This is often adifficult and annoying procedure, and many times results in the tearingof the cap because of efforts to stretch it too far for the purpose ofencompassing stray bunches and wisps of hair at and near the back of theneck. Further, it is usually necessary to tuck stray wisps of hair underthe cap after its final positioning on the head, an operation which isinconvenient and time consuming.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a bathing capwhich may be positioned on the head relatively quickly and easilywithout danger of tearing the cap, and at the same time comprehendingstray wisps of hair which in the use of conventional caps must be tuckedunder after placement of the cap on the head.

An object is to do this without disturbing the desired close fittingcharacteristics of the cap.

A further object is to accomplish the above inexpensively and withsubstantially no change in existing bathing cap styling or construction;

These objects I accomplish by a relatively minor structural addition tothe conventional form of bathing cap.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of a preferred specific embodiment, asillustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bathing cap embodying my improvement asit appears in use on the head of a wearer;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View, looking from the bottom, of the cap ofFig. 1 as it is during use, the head of the wearer being removed forpurposes of illustrating the novel band of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged view of the cap prior to placement on thehead of a user, a portion of the back of the cap proper being brokenaway to illustrate the novel band;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 1 but illustrating thecap in the process of being placed on the head of the wearer; and

Fig. 5 is a corresponding view of a somewhat different embodiment.

Referring now to the drawing: The numeral I0 indicates a bathing cap ofconventional formation, preferably made of thin rubber in customarymanner. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the bathing cap is in place on thehead of a wearer, fitting her head snugly. especially adjacent the hairline, and protecting her hair from wetting during swimming, a showerbath, or the like.

Pursuant to the invention a band II of thin rubber, which may be similarto the material of the cap proper, is secured within the cap IIl so asto hang loosely at the back of the cap, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and beapplicable to the bunched hair of the user just above the back of theneck prior to the complete placement of the cap proper I on the head,see Fig. 4.

The band I I comprehends only a portion of the complete periphery of thehead-insertion opening of the cap, a portion which extends around theback or rear of the cap. It is disposed within the cap, and is securedat its ends intermediate the front and back of the cap, in any suitablemanner, preferably and for example by means of vulcanizing to thematerial of the cap proper, as indicated at I2, Fig. 2. The points ofsecurement are advantageously at opposite sides of the cap somewhat inadvance of the ears of the wearer.

Thus, the band I I and the front peripheral margin of the cap proper II)make up, together, a completely circumferential arrangement which can beinitially positioned on the head relatively easily and quickly. The bandII is of sumcient width to comprehend and cover at least the greaterpart of the bunched hair at the back of the head above the neck line,see Fig. 4, thereby se curing such hair in place while the remainder,the back portion, of the cap proper I0 is pulled down in final position.

The cap proper I0, it will be noted, is subjected to a minimum ofstretching and tugging during its positioning on the head under thesecircumstances. The band II prepares the way, and affords a smoothsurface over which to slip the cap proper during the subsequentcompletion of its positioning on the head.

The band I I is illustrated as being so attached to the cap proper ID asto be in registry with the marginal edge thereof at the head-insertionopening. This may be varied within reasonable limits, so the bandextends somewhat below the edge of the cap proper when in place on thehead, or vice versa. Also, the width and effective length of the band II may be varied to bring more or less of the hair within its coverage.Again, as illustrated in Fig. 5, where the cap is designated I4 andtgeband IS, the band may be so arranged as to be" well within the capproper and toward the rear of the crown of the head rather than lowerdown at the neck line, thereby enabling the hair of the wearer to bebunched somewhat higher on the head,

The material preferred for the cap proper and for the band-insert isrubber. However, it will be realized that any other elastic material mayme employed so long as it effectuates the purposes of the invention.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with respect topreferred specific forms thereof it should be understood that variouschanges may be made therein and various other forms may be constructedon the basis of the teachings hereof without departing from the genericscope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A bathing cap comprising a close-fitting cap proper, and ahair-retaining elastic band secured therewithin, said band beingattached to opposite sides of the cap proper intermediate the front andthe back thereof and extending freely backwardly within the cap properso as to confine 4 masses of hair therebeneath to closely fit about theback of the head beneath the cap proper to enable said cap proper to beeasily placed upon the head of the wearer.

2. A bathing cap comprising a close-fitting cap proper, and ahair-retaining elastic band secured therewithin, said band beingattached to opposite sides of the cap proper intermediate the front andthe back thereof, forwardly of the ear locations. and extending freelybackwardly within the cap proper so as to confine masses of hairtherebeneath to closely fit about the back of th head beneath the capproper to enable said cap proper to be easily placed upon the head ofthe wearer.

EVELYN MCCAFFREY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,465,706 Auster et al Aug. 21,1923 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 203,413 Switzerland June 1,1939

